Sony opens Station Exchange

Sony Computer Entertainment has created an initial release of its legitimate MMO auction site available to players of the popular online game Everquest II (see our previous coverage). The auction service forms part of Sony's Station website, and is called Station Exchange. Players can currently choose to sell items, in-game currency, or even complete characters from their Everquest II accounts, receiving cash in exchange (minus a small fee for Sony, of course). The idea is meant to curb the selling of items through more general auction sites such as eBay, as well as to stamp out the problem of people selling items that buyers never receive. This is done by uploading the items in question to a secure server when the auction starts, ensuring that the winning bidder receives the item at the end of the auction. The system has been criticized, though, with some players feeling it is unfair because instead of having to play the game and put the work in to get items, players can now just buy them. Although some players believe it is unfair, the act of selling items in pretty much all MMOs has been going on for quite a while; Sony just saw that it wasn't getting anything out of people selling stuff for its games and took the initiative. I would be surprised if other companies didn't implement similar systems, and we are bound to see it on Xbox 360, with Microsoft pushing player-to-player buying and selling. Thanks to Gamasutra for the heads-up.

USER COMMENTS 6 comment(s)

Sony?(11:45am EST Mon Jul 18 2005)They still doing the console thing? Thought Microsoft was the new authority. – by Use2BeAGamR

Nerdblurb(11:53am EST Mon Jul 18 2005)This was bound to happen, I dont really agree with it as now Sony condoning the selling of these virtual items and while further change the dynamic of the games. I believe it was fine to trade but adding monetary value to this items….hope this doesnt perpetuate the current item farming situation.

Please check out our podcast

– by The Nerd

new authority?(2:33pm EST Mon Jul 18 2005)Xbox would have to sell at the same rate it is now for another 12 yrs at least to catch PS2.

Then maybe it'll be the new authority. 360 is unlikely to significantly change this. – by Flameproof Underoos

Why Not(4:47am EST Tue Jul 19 2005)Why shouldn't they make all the money possible on their games? People are going to continue to buy and sell items, MS mine as well just make some commissions off of the sales.

– – by Ben Coltrin

I wish(12:30pm EST Tue Jul 19 2005)Man, I wish they'd had this six months ago when I left Everquest 2 after SOE screwed me over on my billing and then refused to refund me. That way I could have sold everything my character had and made back some of the money due me. Then again, SOE would still have made money out of it and I'm buggered if they're getting any more from me.

My guess is they're just trying anything to try and breathe life back into their games in the face of the huge subscription figures enjoyed by the frankly much fun and slick World of Warcraft. All of the many people I know that also switched (experienced MMORPGers to a man) have never looked back. Which speaks volumes. – by Shimmery Phil

Goodbye(1:30am EST Sun Aug 07 2005)Playing both WoW and EQ2, without time to devote to both, Station Exchange was the deciding point – I quit EQ2, and unsubscribed from all my other Sony games (SWG, Planetside etc).

'Secondary Market' trading has always fortold the decline of games when it takes hold in a big way, and for Sony to support it officially on EQ2 says that they've given up, and merely want to claw back as much as they can whilst scaling back operations.

Goodbye EQ2 – I'm sure you'll wobble along for years to come, but the only way is down for you now. – by Neil B